De-cluttering my Flat and my Life: A Forever Deepening Amazingness

I have recently been in the process of de-cluttering my flat, and as it turns out, my life. Historically, de-cluttering has been very difficult for me, so this time I chose to ask for support. At the moment a beautiful friend has been coming over every week specifically for this.

We have been tackling one area at a time – whatever area I have been ready to look at.

Now that we have almost gone around de-cluttering every bit of my flat, I am aware most areas have just had the first go. I could in fact re-visit each area and go deeper.

What a beautiful metaphor de-cluttering is for all the issues and patterns I have been getting frustrated with in my life in general. I realised:

I could look at my life as a big project like my flat, and see each issue as an area requiring a de-clutter.

I can enlist help to stop me from getting overwhelmed when I have resistance.

I can look at one area at a time, doing whatever area I am ready to tackle, to the level I am ready to and then later on I will quite likely see I could go back and do even more.

The fact that I was not ready to de-clutter some areas did not mean I was not committed to clearing my flat. In fact, my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive as well as deeply self-loving.

Also the fact that I could see the possibility to do more in many areas by no means reduced the fact that amazing, celebration-worthy changes had already been made.

In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.

Seeing this as a parallel in my life, I now have a different way of considering my life: that my ability to acknowledge there are issues to be worked on, and my choice to engage with the process in itself, shows how amazing I am. It is fine, and in fact useful, to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for.

Enlisting support and inspiration when I feel I need it is being self-loving and responsible.

When I spot that more work is required in an area it is worth celebrating my readiness to go deeper. De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.

This way of looking at life and appreciating its reflections has been inspired by the presentations and example provided by Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon.

By Golnaz Shariatadeh, BSc, London, UK

Share

I love playfulness. Nothing is as gorgeous as those moments when I catch the playfulness in someone else’s eyes. I enjoy witnessing simplicity and harmony when something is flowing naturally, like how nature works, how our bodies work, when we make choices that are caring and honouring of one another. I love colours, especially vibrant ones. And I love people - I love people very deeply.

You Might Also Like

412 Comments

Ariana Ray says:May 8, 2014 at 1:20 pm

A great blog Golnez, clutter is such a creeping process, we allow one small thing to sit there and it accumulates as if it’s seeking friends, which in a way it is. It accumulates until the whole conglomeration is having a party. But how great to break the party up and send everyone home, giving us space to spread our molocules, I love it. Ariana Ray, UK.

Yes I love the analogy of breaking up the party Ariana. When the clutter (or anything else not in harmony) is just left there, it does seem to infringe on how free and spacious we feel – and it goes on until we engage with it and let it know the party is over.

The good thing about asking a friend for help is that they will see things we are not necessarily prepared to look at. We are so used to having it one way that it looks normal to us. I am still working on de cluttering too.

Very true Alexandre. In de-cluttering as well as anything else in life, when we are stuck in an area, it is immensely helpful to have the input of one who does not have that relationship with it. They can often indeed see things we are not necessarily prepared to look at. It can help us break out of what is keeping us stuck and to look back at the situation and find a new way.

Yes, having friends to support is so supportive! I’m still in the process of letting go of a lot of my material possessions and being reminded by friends that I am more than the sum of my possessions is so helpful. I had been judging my success in life by how much I owned. The love and support I receive for just being me reminds me of who I truly am. This allows me to let go of any possessions that aren’t practical to keep.

Great point Alexandre. I cleaned the house of a friend recently for several hours as was the arrangement. While cleaning I made a few simple changes, like removing items and replacing creating a feeling of more space. Later this friend told me; ‘she enjoyed what I did in her house, like putting stuff in another way, as it looks more still and clear, I learn from this, she said, and thanked me!

I agree Alexandre, I found that by engaging a friend, decluttering was more fun, lighthearted and it allowed me to see certain patterns of behaviours which I may not have seen if I choose to do it all by myself.

Great point Alexandre. When we ask for support it opens up the opportunity for conversations with our friends and family as to whether the items are truly needed. This is very supportive in the long run and supports change old habits and behaviours around what we “think” we need to keep and throw away.

Wonderful analogy re breaking up a party, I have found the last 2 big declutters in my life, I have actually gotten very sick straight after, it’s like my whole body gets a big cleanse from the process too.

I agree, great analogy Ariana and awesome blog Golnaz, recently I have been feeling the clutter in my flat has been making friends like no tomorrow and I have been feeling overwhelmed by the party. Reading your blog Golnaz has reminded me it is OK to tackle one small area at a time and to appreciate the changes I make along the way.

Haha, great way of putting it Ariana, “accumulates as if its seeking friends,” my experience exactly. We can have parties going on in every room. I love the process of clearing out my home, and as Golnaz says, she could feel there is more to be done, more than a first round, I agree and as each layer is de-accumulated it reveals much more space within my home and also it feels, within me.

What a lovely story of you reclaiming and rediscovering you in the process of declutterring. I love that you had support through the process. I love how you let go of any need to self judge too – how refreshing. I know how much lighter it feels in my body when I let go of things that no longer serve, whether it’s patterns of behaviour, emotional needs or clutter – it all leaves me feeling lighter and freer.

So true Felicity. I started off feeling quite stuck in this area. Once I had chosen that I truly did want to tackle it, it became irrelevant what I had or not done in the past, it was easy to see how I could do with support and also to feel who could best provide that support. I am very pleased I acted on what I felt to do and asked for assistance.

I truly loved reading your blog Golnaz. Your gentleness and love for yourself shines through! I have found that once the intention is there to do something, the support is there. Someone said to me recently “you don’t have to suffer”, that’s so true. Thank-you again, Golnaz.

This is a really great way of explaining how to deal with things. We often (and me included) feel we have to tackle everything at once if we want to make change and then give up if we are struggling. What you describe is a very sensible practical approach.

This is a very common pattern for me too Shevon, trying to tackle everything at once, placing myself in distress and then of course begrudging the next time I have to do it. What Golnaz is sharing is monumental and very self loving.

Yes it is very timely to read this as I am in the midst of physically moving house. I have been throwing things away for years now but there always seems to be more to clear up and throw away. It is amazing, I have to wonder where it all comes from! I have now accepted that it is a permanent part of my life to constantly review, clean up and throw out my clutter both inside and out.

Yes, Nicola, I agree wholeheartedly with what you say about clearing clutter both inside and out is under constant review. I too have been moving around the past few years and wonder where all the clutter comes from, there always seems to be more to discard. I have always considered myself rather good at minimalism, but still I ask myself “do I really need this, what am I holding on to it on for?” It then becomes a healing process and once it’s gone it’s forgotten.

I love what you say Nicola ‘I have now accepted that it is a permanent part of my life to constantly review, clean up and throw out my clutter both inside and out’ – so true – as we are constantly evolving and learning and our body can, when we choose, show us the things in our lives that are no longer supportive or needed. I love how the tiniest of detail can become really important – e.g. even the softness of a make up brush, or texture of a facial tissue can feel fine and then one day it feels to harsh or hard in texture and is no longer supporting. Being open to constantly reviewing offers a daily opportunity to let go.

Yes, it is very simple to simplify our lives, not so to constantly keep complicating them. Clearing clutter while still amassing it is, in my experience, much like shoveling snow in a snow storm – exhausting work. To avoid this we must first address the momentum we have in place to keep accumulating ‘stuff’ and then realise that the more we simplify our life, the more the marker for what clutter is keeps moving!

Yes Liane, I agree we really need to have a look at the why we accumulate unnecessary stuff. There is always a reason to why we do this. For me it was trying to fill an emptiness I felt with something or a distraction to keep me from what I was feeling.

Dear Golnaz, what an amazing blog, I can so relate as I have no doubt many can to all that you share. I’ve got a room at the back of the house, and a few cupboards, that I’ve been putting stuff in for years, and closing the door, only recently to open it and step by step begin to clear out lots of old things that are no longer needed in my life…. and it felt and feels amazing. Though I have stopped for a little while, I have been feeling to go back and clear some more…. and as you share I know and can feel this relates to much more than just that back room, thank you for expressing.

Thank you Golnaz for sharing and clearly showing by being committed to a task and its simplicity, rather than the overwhelm, and tackling in our own rhythm it is possible to work through AND ends up having an amazing outcome in other areas of our lives. Beautiful!

I agree Julie. All the different parts of our lives we often consider separate are all intertwined and feed each other. So it is just as you say, when we work through one task or issue and let it go it correspondingly lightens up the whole.

Hello again Golnaz, I’m in the workings of packing before moving and realise how many things I still have with me in my life that I don’t really feel is part of me anymore. And also how great it feels to toss them away making room for what I feel is in line with where I’m at in my life right now, awesome!

Thanks Matts, I am not moving, but your comment made me consider what if I was moving, what if I was starting from scratch? If I take a moment to feel where I am at, what would I want to take with me to support me? Very interesting and valuable to see, as you say, how many things I still have with me in my life that I don’t really feel is part of me anymore. It will be wonderful to create room for what is the real us. Right there with you!

Great comment, Golnaz – it was brought home to me when helping to clear up personal things after the death of a family member – I don’t want anyone else to get lumbered with a whole load of stuff they don’t want when I die, and then I realised that I don’t need to be cluttered up with it now – the ‘party’ of clutter that is gathering in my house right now is just making me feel tired, rather like unresolved emotional issues – I need more space and it is my responsibility to sort it ASAP. It feels like a huge task, but clearing one small area at a time, little and often, works.

I love what you say Carmel about dealing with all the unnecessary items before you die, rather than leaving it for someone having to deal with it. It’s a great level of responsibility being shown to me here to not leave my problems for other people to deal with.

Its so true Matts and Golnaz – when it really comes down to, we don’t need half the stuff we think we do. We too are thinking of moving and the most important thing that we both feel, is to de-clutter the house before we move, so what we take with us represents where we are going, not where we have been!

“…. so what we take with us represents where we are going, not where we have been”. This is a powerful and healing sentence for us all Rowena. It makes me realise that we still have in our house things that represents where we have been and don’t represent what we are now. Time for deeper de-cluttering !

Great points Matts and Golnaz. I have moved a few times in the last 8 years and am amazed that even though I have cleared out lots of stuff, there is yet still more, and most often, what I have clung onto and moved into my next house simply doesnt fit or feel right there. It is an ever evolving process I reckon and one I am learning to really enjoy.

Thanks Golnaz for this lovely inspiration “De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.”

I’m also moving shortly and it has been amazing to feel the change to a room by getting rid of items that are not needed, even one item can change a whole room’s space, it makes everything feel clearer and I have found it very energising. The impact this has on our daily lives and the clutter in our minds cannot be underestimated. Thank you Golnaz for writing on this subject.

Thank you Golnaz for sharing your journey of De-cluttering. I have recently moved and downsized. Not that I had Stuff… a lot of Stuff is an understatement. I had a large two car garage that had over 368 square feet, that was racked out completely, it had aisles. The stuff that was in there, now occupies a lock-up that has 124 Square feet. At one time, not that long ago I had a DVD collection of 1000+. I keep culling the movies every so often. I now have less than 20 and can foresee in the near future that they will be gone. It has been a real large onion that I have been peeling. The discarding has carried on to the stuff I have carried with me, that people can’t outwardly see. The more you discard the easier it gets, for the stuff you stack inside and outside. As you have said the process is a work in progress.

Dear Golnaz thank you for this great blog, such simple truth and clarity. I too have been feeling to clear out, be it my rooms, my wardrobe etc and it feels amazing, as Stephen says even ‘one item can change a whole room’s space’. And I agree it does make everything feel so much clearer, lighter and energising. I remember clearing out a pile of old photos and objects that I no longer needed, and the feeling of lightness and space that filled the room and my body was amazing.

And this may not necessarily be when we are moving or clearing out, but simply in how we leave our space, be it at work, our home or our car.

I agree Gyl, it does feel much lighter, clearer and more energising as we clear out ‘stuff’ that no longer supports us. And yes, ‘the feeling of lightness and space that filled the room and my body was amazing’. I love to go back to the area or room that has been de-cluttered just to feel how lovely it now feels.

I love the imagery presented here and the true facts that can’t be denied. It does feel amazing to be clutter free or at least be aware of what needs work, it gives you the space and freedom to apply yourself whole heatedly anon.

It is so easy to let things slip and create a stuck energy in the home with our clutter, and then blame everything outside for frustrations, overwhelm and many other emotions we can go into. By then of course, it can feel too late, there’s too much to do and we are at risk of giving up. It is great to have help with a project of this nature, but when help is not available, your suggestion of clearing one tiny area at a time is a great help.

Absolutely Carmel, I have also found this to be true. Thank you for the reminder, it made me smile to acknowledge and feel this truth in my body. It is all too easy to blame everything or everyone else for our frustration and I personally feel the overwhelm… and what I am finding just now is that I can either go into drive and having to get it all done, and then give up or, as both yourself and Golnaz have so greatly and rightly expressed, – simply working on one small area at at time, is amazing, and before you know it so much has been cleared, with not an ounce of giving up and overwhelm in sight, just joy and expansion.

Brilliant Blog! Thank you Golnaz, a great reminder of choices we can make to support ourselves! I love living clutter free and as you have said this can be a consistent refinement. Our attachments to objects, photos, bits of paper can really hold us back from growing. By opening clearing out and opening space up we allowing for the true new things to come to us. Out with the old to make way for the amazing new!

Ha ha Sam I love this “out with the old to make way for the Amazing new!” so true. What also came up was attachments to photos, something I didn’t think I had, but there’s definitely something there, thank you.

Well said Golnaz. Over the last 10 years we have had a lot of house moves and it is only in the last 3 moves that we started to look seriously at our clutter. From a double garage full of ‘stuff’ to having no garage and now clutter free. And as you say, the process is an on-going development, forever refining and looking at what we truly do or do not need.

Totally agree Tim… its an on-going development, and I love the way that Golnaz gives herself permission to take it piece by piece as and when it feels right to do it and thereby moving at a natural rhythm that does not overwhelm. I have been decluttering for a while now, and this blog reminds me beautifully that it is an ongoing process, and that I can see and feel the areas that need work and the objects that no longer serve. Thanks Golnaz

This is awesome Golnaz, to de-clutter and make space is so freeing and as you say to have support when it feels overwhelming is very beneficial when it comes to the crunch of letting go of that ‘thing’ that you have been moving around for years. To have someone to ask you ‘why’ supports the process greatly. Thank you for sharing.

I love the way you make the parallel between clutter and patterns in life, and that you appreciate how amazing you are that you are dealing with it, one corner or bit at a time. I concur that yes, you are amazing, Golnaz and what a blessing it is to know you! By reading your blog I can appreciate myself more deeply through all the choices I make that support me likewise.

I can also add, that as Gyl says moving one item can change a whole room’s space. I bought a new house two years ago and have lovingly renovated and decorated it. I have to say that it now feels fabulous. But I was getting frustrated through the process as I knew how the end result was going to be and I didn’t like the way the rooms felt incomplete and not quite right in the process. Each room has taken time to develop, buying the right furniture and arranging everything in it’s right place. The one room that kept annoying me was my living room and I didn’t like sitting in it. Then as the other rooms completed I was finally able to tackle the last bits of clutter in the living room. I took three items away and suddenly the whole room felt AMAZING! I sat on my sofa said, wow and couldn’t believe the transformation. I was planning on building shelves and changing the furniture thinking it would make it better, but it wasn’t needed. I kept saying, wow! I love being in this room now. If I further reflect on Golnaz making parallels on clutter and choices/issues I can say that working on my house has been a huge reflection of my livingness. It’s like I want to get to the end where everything is in its place without appreciating each step on the way. My house is truly beautiful, the colours, textures and light are gorgeous, and it has all come together in the end. Just like the house I will come to my full beauty and amazingness in time. Patience is needed. The more I let go of my issues and clutter the more my glory and beauty will stand out and reveal itself just like my living room!

‘My ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come’… wow, Golnaz, this is so respectful, sweet and inspiring… the acceptance and appreciation of where we are at opens so many doors ahead. Thank you.

This is beautiful. You can feel the love and appreciation for yourself there. Not the hard “look at what’s still left to do!”, but the acceptance of how far you’ve already come. It is respectful and nurturing all at once, gently encouraging yourself to continue as you are.

Hi Golnaz, this is a really lovely blog. I love the part you wrote about how clearing the ‘first go’ can be and we can go back and revisit the area in our house to deeper with de-cluttering and it’s true this is a reflection with our bodies, our relationships, everything. I have set aside tomorrow for a de-clutter day and just seeing your blog made me smile and it felt very inspiring.

I have been finding how everything in life is connected. It is as the profound saying that “nothing is nothing and everything is everything”. At times I get very stuck in de-cluttering of an area that I know needs attention: I know the time is now, but I do not want to face it and go on ignoring it for a while. In these situations I have been noticing how it is not just an item or an area that is at play. I can sense what ‘no longer fits within my expression of life’ is far more than the physical de-cluttering I am considering – the physical is just an outplay of that. I have noticed that when I finally do take act on the physical de-cluttering, it is a powerful statement that I have said no to and let go of that energetic outplay, I could say I have renunciated that energetic outplay in my life. It is very powerful and freeing.

I agree Golnaz when we do finally take the time to de-clutter it is so powerful and freeing and clears so much more than just the items. I have been putting off clearing a shed that has all the garden tools…..just in case I might need them, but they were bought long ago when I had a bigger garden and I used to renovate properties and these items really have no place in my life now. No more putting off what needs to be cleared, I can feel how it is a section of my life I have not wanted to look at or let go, I can already feel how freeing it is just sitting here writing this now, thank you Golnaz.

Yes the firm decision when the time has come is very powerful – and the delay in letting go when it is so ripe and ready to fall off so to speak, just keeps us dulled to our light and in the comfort of not taking the next step forward.

Thank you for sharing this Golnaz, some very wise words. I often look at what needs to be cleared or done in life and go into overwhelm so never actually start. Or feel unless i do it all now its not enough. Lovely to read the reflection of looking at an area at a time and seeking support when needed. It’s great also to feel how you embrace and celebrate when there is more to be done rather than put yourself down because you’ve not yet done that. Very Inspiring.

The line, “my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come” reminds me of the power of regularly appreciating just how far we have come as a vital part of accepting where and who we are now and not always gunning for the finishing line. Thanks, Golnaz.

Thank you Golnaz, it is so powerful to see when something physical happens, whether it’s with the body or in a situation like decluttering how it can show us how our whole lives are reflected in the same pattern of behaviour. It’s a great learning to observe and understand that, and not go into beating myself up when I get stuck. It’s an ongoing process, forever learning.

Hi Golnaz, what a lovely blog demonstrating how everything around you is a reflection of what’s in your heart. I have a small house and really cherish those days where I can walk around picking up all that is not me and throwing it right out. Writing this however I’m wondering if throwing things away may also represent not letting people in to my heart?

Dear Golnaz, I love the way you celebrate that by being open to going deeper with the de-cluttering of your home/self, you are confirming how far you have come. I find this deeply honouring and inspiring – thank you.

That is inspiring Golnaz, the way you bring de-cluttering your flat and your life together. I feel they work in tandem, de-cluttering in one brings about de-cluttering in the other, both ways. I also feel it is well to keep aware of when some clutter starts to develop again in either. I find this can happen if I am not vigilant. Clutter has a way of sneaking in by the back door! But that is great what you say about it helping you to pace yourself and deal with a bit at a time. That is really helpful, thank you.

What comes through so strongly for me through your blog, Golnaz, is your appreciation. Your appreciation of yourself, the fact that you can, “see the possibility to do more in many areas by no means reduced the fact that amazing, celebration-worthy changes had already been made. In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.”
That is so inspiring as it makes any challenge achievable.

Golnaz, I felt to come back to this article and read it again. It’s very timely for me and what touches me deeply is your celebration and appreciation of each area you’ve de-cluttered and even appreciation that you can see there is more to do. I’ve struggled with wanting to have everything fixed and have nothing that needs looking at – what an illusion – slowly that is changing as I become more at ease with me – however this takes things to a deeper level of enjoying and celebrating the deepening process along with all that it brings – as well as the knowing that addressing one area at the time is a loving and supportive way. Thank you.

What I love and appreciate is not only the content of this but that this article itself is not cluttered…everything you say here is relevant , simply yet eloquently put. Beautifully written. Your comment that in de-cluttering you can sense “what ‘no longer fits within my expression of life’ “and how you are in fact renouncing “that energetic outplay” in your life. Very powerful indeed.

Golnaz this is just the most amazing blog – I love it! It’s so true we accumulate so much stuff we don’t need, in our houses, in our bodies, in our heads, and de-cluttering (for me anyway) is an essential part of life – and I love doing it. I love how you are including so much more of your flat in this process, and understanding your flat as a reflection of something much bigger, I can really feel your stead-fast-ness and strength and it is very inspiring.

Beautiful Golnaz, your process, asking for support, taking one aspect at a time is truly awesome. I love the way you could then relate clearing your clutter in your living space equal to clearing habits and patterns in how you live. What a joyous experience and thank you for sharing your journey. And I can attest to the fact that your de-cluttering is bringing powerful results, as one of your friends I can truly say that its becoming easier and easier and a real joy, to see your amazing love and light shining out of your eyes every time we meet. A deep heartfelt Thank You for the Love you are and express in the world. Keep chucking out the junk!!

I have recently been de-cluttering Golnaz and your blog was a lovely reminder to take it one bit at a time and not rush to try and do it all at once. I like the way you see how de-cluttering can relate to other areas in your life. “It is fine, and in fact useful, to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for.” Thanks for sharing.

I can relate to what you have said Debra and it is a reminder to me to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for as I find I can easily go into overwhelm. When I do get to what I have been avoiding, the feeling is great and I wonder why I didn’t do it before! Loved your article Golnaz, it feels timely and supportive.

Thank you Golnaz for this inspiring blog. I am also moving in the near future. I did a big de-clutter about a year ago which felt amazing but your blog has inspired me to go deeper and revisit areas that I felt resistant to before. I Love how you have applied de-cluttering as life’s bigger picture “De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.” Awesome Golnaz thank you!

Awesome blog Golnaz, thank you. I particularly loved the ending – “When I spot that more work is required in an area it is worth celebrating my readiness to go deeper. De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.” – Such a beautiful way to approach de-cluttering on the inside and out!

This is great Golnaz, I feel very inspired to de-clutter my house, there are areas in my house that I have noticed need de-cluttering and I have been putting this off, but it feels so lovely to read of your experience of de-cluttering your flat that I now feel inspired to tackle this.

Golnaz I love reading your blog because I get inspired to de-clutter something. First it was the shed and now it is my clothes. I know there is one suit I have kept for 10 years and never worn….need I say more.

Thank you Golnaz for such an inspiring article. I too am decluttering and clearing spaces. I am realizing over time that it simply causes confusion and lack of clarity in my life when I don’t keep on top of things constantly that need clearing out and the amazing space and freedom it brings when I do. I feel a great joy in opening a tidy cupboard or draw or having a clear worktop. This is a constant work in progress in my life. Thank you for seeing it so positively and simple with all it brings.

It’s so great to read your article and then the comments that follow. The power of true inspiration, not to be told what to do, but to share how you have lived it and then for others to feel that for themselves and then make their own choice from there. Beautiful. Something that Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon have been showing for years.

Hi Golnaz, I enjoyed reading your blog on de-cluttering and the benefits. I personally have never had a problem with clutter or hoarding but I have lived with someone who until recently couldn’t throw anything out. Slowly and gradually items were sorted and a decision was made – I found that it was no good me expecting too much progress or trying to push the decision making process, because it just caused anxiousness with the other person and myself. It was very difficult for him to let go of his treasured belongings (some items were from the 1970’s), but gradually with support he was able to slowly let some items go. There are still things that will go when the time is right but now there is a willingness to let go of other things – which I see as a big step.

This is wonderful Julie. I can very much relate to the person you are talking about and his process. What a wonderful support you are to him that you have chosen to not push when he is not ready to make a step and yet you are there to encourage him when he is ready to face his hurdles. It will get easier and go to another level after a while. And until then I can vouch that even the tiniest step is a profound choice and a great healing. You are right – it is a big step.

I have found that you don’t need to own lots of belongings to have clutter. I now see clutter as anything that doesn’t support me any more, such as old clothes that don’t fit. Thanks for sharing, Golnaz… and you’re totally right – there’s always an opportunity for a round two.

Dear Golnez, I so enjoyed reading this. I love the gentle self acceptance you extend to us all here in how one can go about ‘clearing out’ as a process to be celebrated. I can feel your deep love of people and see your vibrancy shining out of your photo! Beautiful!

This is co cute. I love the ‘enlisting of a friend’. Letting someone in, allowing the support. I recently had a similar experience. I needed some help moving some furniture around. So I asked a friend. The first thing that was amazing was that because he couldn’t come for a couple of weeks, I had to wait. And I did wait. Whereas, in the past, I would have pushed myself to do it immediately and get it done. But the 2 weeks wait was actually a beautiful little lesson in patience and space and allowing. And stuff happened in those 2 weeks that changed what needed to be done and how it needed to be done. If I hasn’t asked, I wouldn’t have had to wait and wouldn’t have seen what needed to be seen. So that was super cool. And we hadn’t even started yet!! The process itself was amazing. To work with someone who was as caring about my belongings, my space, how we did the job as he would have been with his own things was gorgeous. It was sweet. It was cute. It was delicious to feel that equality and care from him. And we BOTH loved doing it. And all because I allowed myself to let someone in.

Golnaz as a serial de-clutterer this blog has made me look at the way I declutter and why I allow things to build before I attempt to have a big clear out. I will definitely be going back and revisiting these areas much sooner and going to a deeper level with each.
Thank you for sharing

“De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop.” I love this Golnaz. As I develop my self-love I find I want to clear more from my physical surroundings. Although I am aware this needs to happen I somehow don’t make the time always for this to happen. Delay – something I am addressing in my daily life at present.

Thank you, Golnaz. When I start to feel like I need to clear out something in my home it is usually something within myself that also needs addressing . And likewise as I let go of something in me naturally I let go of stuff in the house and all feels spacious again!

Julie I find exactly the same thing. So it’s important for me to look at what’s going on before I de-clutter. I can do this out of a reaction or frustration, which doesn’t allow for any spaciousness at all – in truth this just adds more to the clutter.

I love your blog Golnaz. De-cluttering is a favourite pastime of mine, as I love order and harmony in the house and in life. I have made great progress with it in the last few years… As a contradiction I can be very untidy as well, so I am training myself to put things away as I go, e.g. clothes, rather than waiting for a big pile to develop and then do it. The area I have most difficulty with being tidy is in the home office, with paperwork and filing. I can keep it under control for a little while and then more paper comes in the house. I will remember your tip to do a little bit at a time to stop feeling the overwhelm. We recently decluttered our garage, which was filled to capacity with old boxes and books etc. It’s so worth it to feel the spacious feeling afterwards.

I love this blog. As I de-clutter – an on-going process since moving house a year ago – the following statement is so helpful: “The fact that I was not ready to de-clutter some areas did not mean I was not committed to clearing my flat. In fact, my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive, as well as deeply self-loving.” Very supportive – Thank you Golnaz.

What a great way to work through a big project Golnaz and how beautiful to feel the simplicity and self appreciation in taking it one bit at a time. Reorganizing spaces, or cupboards or shelves feels great and what makes me smile to myself, is when I take any opportunity to return to that space afterwards and stand there and enjoy the now loveliness of it. So true, it’s more than just a tidy-up.

Hi Golnaz, I love the way you compare the de-cluttering of your flat to how you approach areas of your life. There is a lovely feeling of self-love and appreciation in your blog, just accepting how much you can do at any one time. No rush! Just beautiful.

So great to read these comments today as I sit surrounded by books and papers that are the left-overs of my last tidy-up. I had some work done to a wall in the kitchen where the bookshelves were. It has been wonderful to throw away bags of unwanted and redundant material, but these piles that are left need more careful scrutiny…and it is ok to go to bed with it like this and finish the clear-up in the morning – it is so ok to do that. I had begun to feel less because of my judging this ‘a mess’ and the next thing would have been to experience twinges of guilt. I feel so much better as I accept what is – this support has come at just the right moment. Thank you everyone.

Golnaz I love how you have playfully embraced your de-cluttering process and called in a beautiful friend to support you with it. What I am finding is that most of the time I naturally de-clutter these days, so the house looks decluttered and tidy, yet I can feel that this is not always the case with my life. If I am willing to look deeper I will see that there is another layer to clear, it may be how I have been placing things in cupboards or something in the garage needs more attention, I feel these are areas I am not so willing to look at or pay attention to. I will make excuses such as I don’t have time or in the case of the garage it is not so important, and I can see how I can resist looking at them, just as I do in my life.

Hi Golnaz, I felt to come back to your inspiring post as I find it’s true when you wrote about doing one area at a time to the level you felt to and “then later on I will quite likely see I could go back and do even more”.
This happened to me yesterday. I had been procrastinating about clearing some paper work in the home office. I took a walk for a while where I had the opportunity to be more present with myself and connect back to my body. Afterwards I felt so inspired to do a de-cluttering session on the paperwork, and just get on with it. I felt the clarity in me, and couldn’t face the “rubbish” around me anymore. It felt amazing afterwards. There is still more to do, and the trick is to not let it pile up again. Thank you for writing about this important topic.

As I progress with further decluttering tomorrow, I came across this article and felt it such a timely support especially when I read ‘In fact, my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive as well as deeply self-loving.’ Thank You!

“Enlisting support and inspiration when I feel I need it is being self-loving and responsible.” This is so true Golnaz, yet how many times do we hold back from doing this in the belief that if I do I will look silly, pathetic, inadequate or some such belief? It is such an amazing shift when we can ask for help and not feel lesser but in fact empowered by being truthful and not attempting to live up to a false expectation.

I learnt to ski in my 30’s in the same class as my young niece and nephew. The real snow was nothing like the indoors slopes. I was so afraid of the drag lift and the gradient of the slope, and it was reflected in my relationship with my skis, much to the chagrin of my young family!!!
So after lunch I decided to go back and have a go away from the gaze of the rest of the class. By now a mist had descended and I could only see the snow in front of me, so I skied on that, then turned and skied back, continuing until I got to the bottom of the slope. With no distractions my relationship with my skis improved dramatically.
And that’s what I do now when I have a zero tolerance de-clutter day, I just deal with what is in front of me, no distractions, then when I have done that I move onto the next area. Without all the self criticism and judgements progress is much smoother.

This is a great blog Golnaz I love the way you draw the parallel of your flat with your life. After reading this blog for the second time I realised that I haven’t done the decluttering I said I’d look at after reading it the first time and realised I have been making many excuses for prolonging the de-clutterfication, and none of them are valid. So as I go through and start to rid the unnecessary items in my house and life, that are no longer needed, I’m going to feel what I still have an attachment to.

We tend to see tasks and things to do in a straight line – start middle and finish. But Golnaz you have beautifully illustrated that life actually works in circles or cycles and there is no end point. Once we have completed something we set out to do there is always more to look at and the potential to go even deeper, to expand our awareness even more.

Gorgeous Golnaz, thank you for an amazing blog. De-cluttering our homes is a very important part of living. Why accumulate all this “stuff” we don’t use anymore or that are not what we are now ? I find that what makes me keep the “stuff” is emotions and attachment and de-cluttering for me is an ever refining process.

Well, it seems that letting people in is the way forward. I find it really hard asking for help. I am inspired by this blog and all the lovely comments to enlist some help in what I have allowed to accumulate and get overwhelmed by. Thank you everyone.

That is lovely Natalie. Go for it seeking assistance really works. Natalie I too sometimes find it difficult to ask for assistance – usually when I am making it personal and about needing to prove that I can handle it. But when I allow myself to feel how a little support can free up a stuck area, and free me up to expand and express, and how this impacts more than myself – then asking for support seems the most loving and simple thing to do.

Golnaz, this is super. I love your acceptance for yourself and your approach, a celebration of what you are clearing with a knowingness that later there may be more. This is huge for me to feel and read, as often in the past I’ve gotten caught in wanting to do it all at once, in wanting to have it all gone now, but I’m learning there is forever evolving and recognising that there is always a deeper level and I will go there, I am committed to going there, while allowing myself the grace to address and experience what is there for me to look at now. Thank you I feel a further declutter coming for me, so reading this today is such an appreciation for me, thank you.

Wow awesome, practical and very inspiring blog, Golnaz. I especially like: ‘It is fine, and in fact useful, to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for.’ I love throwing things that no longer support me out, but sometimes I just don’t know where to start. Like every room or cupboard is calling: please clear me, I want more space. So one step at a time and simply start somewhere I feel ready to look at is perfect. Thank you.

What a great blog. I especially like how the line, ‘When I spot that more work is required in an area it is worth celebrating my readiness to go deeper,’ can be applied to all areas of life. This appreciation of ones willingness to notice what is next that is asking for attention is such a loving way to approach life.

I am learning life is about expanding and working on the next thing is how this evolves. This beats getting overwhelmed and potentially giving up at the enormity of wanting one’s life all sorted at once. If I appreciate who I am within this process then the de-cluttering is just something that is supporting me. All the while I remain me, I’m just removing what’s in the way of me shining through.

Hi Golnaz, this is so insightful. Treating your life as though it were your flat and choosing one area to DE clutter at a time, I think that is an awesome way to look at it. This is really helpful, thank you.

This is a great inspiration Golnaz, I have been doing lots of clearing out recently, realising that doing a little at a time is much more manageable. Allowing myself to get to each bit that I know I want to address at the right time is a big step forward, as before I would just feel like I ‘needed’ to get everything done right now, which is completely unmanageable and causes me stress and overwhelm.

What immediately jumped out at me from this article was in the very first paragraph – “Historically, de-cluttering has been very difficult for me, so this time I chose to ask for support.” I’ve also found it difficult to work through certain aspects of my life that have built up even over a very short period of time, such as a couple of years of filing that needs to be sorted, or a wardrobe that’s 40% full of clothes I never wear. Reading this article I can feel that decluttering is difficult because it is looking at choices or ways of living that we have engaged in that are not really true for us, or true to who we are. So the decluttering process is being willing to feel these choices, and the consequences they have had in our life. So enlisting support makes sense, not just practical support to do it, but a very solid support of a friend to support us to be honest, non judgemental and loving with all that we feel and all that is revealed – so we can begin to choose a new and solid way forward, that is more in line with the powerful, loving and inspirational us.

Spot on Danielle…’decluttering is difficult because it is looking at choices or ways of living that we have engaged in that are not really true for us, or true to who we are.’

This is why I have found de-cluttering or discarding of things not needed any more, or not serving anymore to be such an opportunity for healing. It is a process that cant be rushed or pushed as it is very much an outer & inner unfolding.

Golnaz I de cluttered and re-ordered my sock and leggings drawer in my bedroom and I was amazed at how this changed the energy in the room when next I walked in. It was like a little pocket of love in the room, not visible, but felt so yummy. I love the connection you make between de-cluttering our spaces and de cluttering our minds.
Thank you.

Thank you Golnaz for this amazing blog which just has made my day. To see how amazing I am by being able to see what has to be worked on is something I had never truly considered. Thank you for bringing a broad smile and thoughts of playfullness to my morning with your Blog.

Deeply appreciated wisdom, as ever, Golnaz. And also very timely as I am in process of decluttering and re-organising quite ‘sizeably’ also. Celebrating each step, and truly stopping to feel how amazing it is when everything feels in complete alignment to what can truly support myself and my husband, has been fabulous, and also supported me in taking each area ‘one at a time’ (i.e. no overwhelm).
Having some items in the house fixed, or upgraded along the way has also been fabulous! Such as replacing the seals on our fridge/freezer – the difference this made to how the whole kitchen feels, absolutely palpable!

I love your account of de-cluttering your flat Golnaz, and how you have related it back to the way in which you live your life as well. I can feel your playfulness and your willingness to keep working on going deeper in your relationship with yourself and all that is around you! I’m inspired 🙂

Congratulations and Celebrations for being brave enough to commence de-cluttering your flat (inner life) and recognising that it is an ongoing process. ‘The Forever Student’ are not empty words but a life dedicated to studying (de-cluttering) ourselves and, by default, each other.

Inspiring thank you Golnaz. I have in the past, always struggled with de-cluttering to a degree, it has got to such a point where I have called in some support. I love the feeling after letting ‘things’ that no longer support me go, that in itself inspires me to go further. And with support it is so much easier, and even enjoyable.

I enjoyed your blog Golnaz, and it’s lovely how you didn’t go into overwhelm and try to get it perfect first time round. This is something I am learning to do in my life as well and not only does the house feel great I don’t get exhausted in the process.The next step for me is to ask for a friend’s support next time I move or de-clutter – thanks for the inspiration!

Golnaz it is lovely how you took to your flat de-clutter ever so gently and as you felt to do it. It was a great reminder to me to really appreciate how far I myself have come and how that it is truly loving to see that there are things to work on and they will come in due time.

This is so true Kelly. Appreciating ourselves and how far we have come is vital if we are to continue developing our foundations to support ourselves in addressing the twists and turns and challenges of our everyday life as they come up.

What I love most about your blog Golnaz is the way you see and write about dealing with issues as a process rather than an end goal, so you are always willing to look for “points of evolution” – areas that you can work on within and without to develop yourself, and once you get there you naturally say “ok what is next?” It is a lovely way to be in life.

Golnaz I’ve been going through a similar process and recently with a de-clutter and room adjustment my home feels completely different. By taking one thing at a time it opens up rather than trying to rush to the end and have it all done. It’s amazing how the simplest little changes make such a difference. It feels like I’m sun bathing every time I walk into the room.

I agree David, the simplest things can make a difference. The other day I noticed how I had piled 3 books on my bedside table and it never had felt right, and yet I let this be for quite a few months. Then one day I just simply placed them in a different way & put one in a draw. So simple, and yet what a profound difference it made to my room every time I walked in. The attention to detail, the angles, the way things are placed…it all makes a difference.

I very appreciate what you wrote so simply, Golnaz and the reflection it brings to our lifes. For me it is not anymore about clutter as I did this process during the years. For me my flat reflects every single minute how I feel in my body and what happens in my life. If there is disorder in certain areas and my daily and weekly cleaning shows me how I deal with things which come accross in my life. For example, if the entrance hall is in disorder and dirty, it shows me that when I come home, I bring the stresses of the day in. So I observe and ponder what happened. That does not mean that I immediately grab the hoover, all has its time. But I get aware that there is something to clean.

Thank you for the great metaphor for the issues we can look at as in a need of decluttering. What I feel in my own life is how supportive it is for me to declutter my room and make it supportive to me. That is very powerful.

I am constantly in tidying up mode always streamlining everything around the home ….. I see it as a reimprinting! Nothing is static in my life so why would my home not reflect this constant willingness to look in every corner and bring the same attention to detail as I bring to myself. It’s always a ‘ work in progress”
I need one of the road work signs outside my front door.

Golnaz, as i was reading your blog I could feel your playfulness and light-hearted approach with yourself, with life and with decluttering steadily and easily whatever is in the way. It was inspiring to read the gorgeous acceptance that it doesn’t all need to be done right away and that if there is one area of our lives still with some clutter it does;t mean we have failed, or that we’re a bad person! It’s easy to bash ourselves about not being perfect…. and of course perfection will never be attained because no one is perfect. There is always something to work on, more to unfold and expand into, something else to declutter because it’s no longer working for us. we can approach life in that acceptance and knowing and have huge fun along the way — which is what I was very much reminded of in reading your blog. Thank you.

Dear Golnaz your blog made me realise how I can attempt to de-clutter my mind the way you did with your flat, one room at a time. I have no physical clutter around me but emotionally my house is up to the rafters. I will look at every ’emotional room’ in my head and start getting rid of blockages. Thank you for the metaphor.

Thank you for sharing your story of reclaiming your self and your home. I like the line ‘My ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.’ Your acceptance and appreciation of yourself expressed in these words is truly beautiful and very inspiring. Thank you Golnaz.

‘I love playfulness. Nothing is as gorgeous as those moments when I catch the playfulness in someone else’s eyes. I enjoy witnessing simplicity and harmony when something is flowing naturally, like how nature works, how our bodies work, when we make choices that are caring and honouring of one another. I love colours, especially vibrant ones. And I love people – I love people very deeply’. Golnaz, I read your article and love how you wrote about your process of ‘freeing up’ both within and without. But it is the quotation from you above that stopped me in my tracks. It is such a glorious description of you and the love you bring.

Thanks Golnaz -I enjoyed feeling you in this blog just as much as what you shared. For something that you find difficult there was so much fun and delight brought to it as well as appreciation and understanding. The topic you bring is important as many do not consider the impact of clutter or even the influence our homes have on us and how we live in them. This sharing has also opened up the possibility to reflect more when I de-clutter at what I am holding onto unnecessarily and even more so when I ‘get ruthless’ and get rid of something without looking at why I can’t simply let go and have to be ruthless at all in the de-cluttering process. Funny I even have to tell myself to be ruthless – instead I could be far more tender and explore what the tension about getting rid of the object is really about.

I love what you have shared here Deanne…’Funny I even have to tell myself to be ruthless – instead I could be far more tender and explore what the tension about getting rid of the object is really about.’

I feel there is much healing on offer if we are able to look at this within ourselves. Why did we buy it? How were we feeling at the time? Was it a purchase that supported us? Did we allow ourselves to be influenced by what others like? So many different reasons why we buy things and hold onto things in our homes.

I am doing another room de-clutter today Golnaz and it was great to re-read your blog, and to be reminded of the inner de-clutter that happens alongside the outer job. It really does create more space in the body!

I agree Bernadette…and you have reminded me of why I enjoy the process of letting go of ‘old stuff’…as I attend to the outer, I am attending to the inner. But I do ask myself which one really came first? Did my inner self choose this and then the physical de-clutter followed? Or vice versa?

Thanks Golnaz, your blog reminds me of what it has felt like when I clear out stuff not being used anymore, it also reminds me that I have more to go. Being able to appreciate how far you have come is so beautiful and important, I am reminded of how far I have come and know that I am still able to go deeper and deeper. Keeping it simple.

This is really a great support Golnaz. We have moved a few months ago, and even though I thought I had already let go of a lot of things, we are now decluttering again. And I can allready feel the space it will bring, not only in our home but also in our lives.

I agree with what is presented in this article. When a space (house or room, etc.) you are in is organised and de-clattered, we all feel “spaciousness” in and outside of our body and it really feels so much better. Thank you Golnaz for writing this.

I too have to de-clutter. We a family of four have collected a lot of junk thinking that we can use it one day. We have moved from living on a boat sharing every inch of space together in close quarters to now living in a house on 15 acres. We have more space than ever but we can feel the clutter and disarray. It feels great every time we do a big clean out but each time we can go further and deeper to allow more space. At the moment we are well overdue for a big de-clutter. Thank you for the reminder Golnaz, to tackle it an area at a time sounds great. I will try that.

Beautiful allegory Golnaz, how you describe the way you are decluttering your flat and how that makes you to become aware how to honour yourself in dealing with your personal issues. It is great what you show me with this story, that we have to do everything in our own rhythm, and by doing so we honour ourselves and connect ourselves to the grandness we innately are. Lets celebrate the changes we have already made, and how far we have come.

Golnaz, I love your words, ALL of them!
I have never been one for hoarding, I love to de-clutter, and after moving house at least seven times in as many years, what a fantastic opportunity for clearing out my life AND my clutter! It has made me realise how little I need and what I was holding on to, it has been a great healing for me. And I agree, clearing is an on-going process and we can go deeper and deeper with it, in our own time, and in my case, without being hard on myself for not being perfect right NOW! I always know when something is shifting for me because I have the urge to sort out drawers or clear cupboards, or even re-decorate or move furniture, and that should be celebrated! Thank you Golnaz.

I love what you have shared here Sandra as I can so relate. And you have reminded me how powerful it is to move furniture around when the impulse is there…this in itself can be so healing and support the de-cluttering process. And there is something magical about moving house…I feel its because I get to ‘start again’ from whatever my new foundation is at that time.

Thank you Golnaz for this revealing blog – I so enjoyed the depth of your expression and have learned from my own experiences the necessity on more than one level for ‘de-cluttering’ ones residence, car, handbag, letter rack etc. etc. and not forgetting ones’ self. We have had 7 moves in 50 years and there was a lot of learning around ‘things’ that we acquire individually and as a family and how this accumulates around us as ‘needs’. Interestingly my biggest awareness was given me when I had to prepare my parents house for possible tenants after a lifetime of “collecting and keeping for a rainy day!” This activity was a constant while I was living there for more than a period of 6 weeks. I discovered quite a bit about myself during this process thanks to my developing awarenesses in regards to the energy of all things, as shared by Serge Benhayon and the Universal Medicine presentations. I feel there is more room now for joy and playfullness in this new arena of spaciousness.

Golnaz I really appreciate your connection with how we can support ourselves to go deeper in awareness while being super gentle and supportive along the way, as we de-clutter the space we live in. “When I spot that more work is required in an area it is worth celebrating my readiness to go deeper.”
This is lovely – thank you.

‘When I spot that more work is required in an area it is worth celebrating my readiness to go deeper’. I never looked at it in this way, this will take some pressure of and will bring more appreciation in my life, thank you Golnaz.

Thank you Golnaz. Being able to see where we are and the possibilites for ourselves is the key. I love it when you share your own awareness of the potential to go deeper in the clearing but always in connection with yourself, how you are feeling and when you’re ready. A truly loving way to de-clutter

Many years ago I had a repeating dream. I was always in the attic of my house and I couldn’t get in because of all the clutter. This was at a time in my life when I threw out nothing and claimed this as a badge of honour. I knew the dream symbolised mental and emotional not just physical clutter. I held on to everything good bad and ugly until I reached a point of suffocation and stagnation physically and emotionally. It took years, a house move, an illness, my own learning before I could face clearing my home of anything that no long served me. And it’s true Golnaz, it is a continuous process. I’m better at it now and each year consciously let go of more. Sometimes I can’t let something go because I’m attached to a memory it invokes or emotion. A year later, it’s easy. Now I observe not just what I’m ready to release, but also what I’m bringing in. When we de-clutter, be sure to replace the old things aligned to where you are now. Better still play with leaving spaces open.

What a beautiful way to open up S-P-A-C-E both within and outside of yourself Golnaz. I love a good de-clutter but in the past it was merely an excuse to re-clutter as I hadn’t addressed any of the patterns and behaviours behind it. I have spent a lifetime in the de-clutter, re-clutter loop but its different now…it seems to be somehow about making more space for me. As you have noted, it is an ever-deepening process. I have noticed that the more space I make for me the more me that moves in to fill it! I suspect this as endless as the cosmos and beyond – it turns out I have been playing myself a wee bit small…

Reading your blog reminded me of a quote from finding Nemo when Dory says ‘just keep swimming’. Your sharing Golnaz reminded me of this because we all have areas in our lives that need de-cluttering and I am sure we have all have resisted the mess that needs cleaning. And sometimes we just need to ‘keep swimming’ and know that it is going to be ok.

It is so easy to get buried in our ‘stuff’ and when we leave it lying around we trip over it. Thank you Golnaz for the inspiration to look carefully all around and within me to clear out some more junk – including the junk mail in my mind.

Golnaz that was beautiful to read and feel how you viewed de cluttering. You have an amazing way of celebrating yourself. It was inspiring to read as it brought up the lack of celebration I have for myself and how amazing that celebration could actually feel.

A great blog, Golnaz, – and this says it all: “there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop.” I love to de-clutter in my closet and in my flat in general, and you just inspired me to go deeper. Thank you.

Golnaz, I love the decluttering analogy to life ‘ De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.’ Yes, it’s forever deepening without being hard on ourself and just allowing to see what comes up next. Thanks for your beautiful sharing.

My partner and I have done the physical declutter many times in our time together and each time we do there is a definite lightening in the body in the same we we have chosen to be supported with sessions to help shift the pockets of clutter in the body.

This really stood out for me – ‘In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.’ This is such an important truth to appreciate. Thank you Golnaz for reminding me that celebrating the beautiful changes I have made in my life so far are well and truly deserving and a taste of what is yet to unfold because of this.

I like the way you have looked at the de-cluttering of our house and ourselves, it makes a lot of sense. I love how you are so accepting of yourself and each process you undertake to go deeper, it’s very inspiring.

Re-reading this blog I liked this sentence :”Enlisting support and inspiration when I feel I need it is being self-loving and responsible”. Enlisting support has always been difficult for me but I can see how self-loving and responsible it can be if I do not consider it a sign of weakness.

Any time I have de-cluttered areas of my home I have always felt so much lighter in myself.
Feeling ready to look at our old stuff and remove that which no longer serves us can lighten the load in our home and our body. A great blog Golnaz. Thank you

Hello Karen, I agree and likewise, when I have simplified the way I live or de-cluttered ‘me’ it has flowed on into my home and the relationships around me have freed up. This process between home and life supports itself and each other, one feeds onto and back to the other. This is a great blog that keeps giving, “forever deepening”.

What a beautiful analogy Golnaz. I love the approach, it shows your dedication, the willingness for consistency, allowing yourself the space to do it in a self-loving way and your openness for the support of another. This is a big one as it requires to let someone to see you closely and not just the pretty side of things but actually the parts that have cobwebs and are at times ugly and need de-cluttering.

This is so true, Golnaz: “What a beautiful metaphor de-cluttering is for all the issues and patterns I have been getting frustrated with in my life in general.”
I find that many people are overwhelmed by the whole picture of what needs to be done, so that they freeze up and can’t even start. If they try to change everything at once, it often leads to resounding failure and discouragement, and deepening of the problem. Whether it’s the house, food issues, finances, the body, the office…. It all seems too much. Just starting with one little corner is amazing – the feeling of clearing and empowerment spills over and makes it easier to tackle the next bit, etc. A great strategy for life!

I have always had an ordered and uncluttered way of living, but I am always appreciating what a good spring clean feels like. Golnaz your blog reminded me of all the times I have done a spring clean, or cleaned out my wardrobe, or thrown away old things that were not needed anymore…and every time I have done this it has felt great in my body. There is very much a connection between our ‘things’ and our life. I think that is why I have always enjoyed moving house as I get the opportunity to revisit stored boxes and continue to simplify my life. Clarity in my living environment supports clarity of mind.

I too, like you Marika have found that “Clarity in my living environment supports clarity of mind.”
I feel it is very important to declutter frequently. It definitely allows your body to feel more spacious and less weighed down, from hanging on to things that no longer truly support you.

What you share is so true Marika. What I have also found is that clutter in not only what we physically see in our homes with the accumulation and excess of our material items, but it is also the emotional clutter we have accumulated in the way of behavioural patterns, ideals and beliefs. It is just as vital for our general health and well-being to let go of both and commit to everyday constantly simplifying our lives.

I love this quote, it is something I am to quick to forget “Seeing this as a parallel in my life, I now have a different way of considering my life: that my ability to acknowledge there are issues to be worked on, and my choice to engage with the process in itself, shows how amazing I am.” I may have to stick it on my fridge!!

The parallel of de-cluttering our homes and our lives is evident in my own experience, I can feel more of a flow and expansion in my home and so my experience of life when I remove the stuff that is not me any more. Thank you.

Thank you Golnaz! Absolutely awesome – I love the way you describe how ‘decluttering’ can also be used as a metaphor for dealing with ourselves and the issues we have created in our lives. So often I have tried to bite off more than I could chew. Reading your blog I was able to feel that this is a set up to ensure I feel overwhelmed and stay stuck in destructive patterns. Breaking things down into manageable pieces is indeed the responsible thing to do, as is asking for support when needed.

Golnaz I love how honouring you were with yourself. Never pressuring yourself to just get on with it but allowing the process to unfold. Enlisting support from a friend and tackling one area at a time allowed you to not get overwhelmed and to continue on and not give up. Most of all I love how this is the same in our inner de-cluttering process, how our inner life is reflected in our outer life.

I agree Christoph, our commitment to constantly decluttering and simplifying all facets of our daily lives is a self care program that we all should make a part of our daily rhythm as it is very supportive of our general health and well-being. As I write this I can see and feel I need to pay much more attention to letting go of such clutter in my everyday life instead of doing it intermittently and only when it gets too much and overwhelms me.

“De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.” Golnaz – wunderbar!!!! I love what you share here – this is so powerful because it is so simple. With that all is said!!!!

There is a lot in this blog I can relate to, especially as in the next month I am about to be moving – a great chance to look at anything that I don’t actually need in my life. I am finding that as I deepen the relationship with my body more there are certain things, namely clothes that just no longer support me – such as jeans that are too tight around the hips. Getting help from others to see areas of clutter in our lives where we may have blind sided ourselves to them is a great way of saying ‘I know there is something here, I can sense it but I cannot do this alone’ – we aren’t designed to work solo but together with each other because of those different angles we all see we all have a unique perspective. In the past when moving or de-cluttering I often ask myself “Has it stayed in the closest/box for over a year? and do I plan to use it in the next year?” If the answer is no then I question why it is still hanging around. Focusing on breaking down the areas of life rather than waiting around for the whole picture to come together on it’s own makes a lot of sense as well. Thank you Golnaz.

‘In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.” In this way it is very confirming and a joy to go on instead of the harsh way we have chosen in the past, we did it wrong and that we would be never good enough.

I love how you share about your de-cluttering. I am very much de-cluttering at the moment and now looking around my apartment, I really feel like de-cluttering tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I already know which area….

Thank you Golnaz for your inspiration , I am starting a de-clutter process today . You are so right this is an on going process ever deepening and ever letting go of what is not mine but has been horded and piled up in some corner.

Thanks Paul and Golnaz, we can all take the time to ‘clean up our acts’ and de-clutter our lives. I know every time I have a ‘clean out’ I feel more free in my life. Even just the thought of it takes weight from my shoulders.

A brilliant blog Golnaz. I love how you confirm and deeply appreciate you and the process every step of the way, and with this deeper levels of amazingness are able to be revealed. It shifts what could be a sporadic and exhausting exercise to a vitalising expression of love. Very inspiring, thank you.

Golnaz thank you. I love the metaphor of de-cluttering. I remember a time in my life when I would go into self-reflection (or more likely self-condemnation!) and look at the huge mess my life was in, the huge mountain of crap before me that I needed to face and somehow get rid of! I still have those moments at times but as I gradually build self-love it makes the task so much easier, I can rest when I need to, and ask for support as well. Due to some pretty amazing glimpses I have an understanding of who I am deep down which makes the work easier and so worthwhile.

I do so love this blog Golnaz. Your self-love shines through so very brightly and radiates such joy. One example that stood out is where you acknowledge that you weren’t ready to de-clutter some areas of your flat, and in being honest with yourself about this you so beautifully confirm your love and respect for yourself. I can feel how your foundation of self love becomes more and more consistent and solid with each confirmation.

The de-cluttering thing is so interesting. I’ve always been a bit of a collecter shall we say. Not out of control, but I see possibilities with things that I imagine one day having the time to come back to and get my hands dirty with transforming something otherwise useless into something useful. I do find it hard to let go of these ‘things’. However, I also have times where I am desperate to de-clutter and just want to get rid of a whole bunch of stuff. What’s interesting is that I get started and I rarely finish. I know this whole exercise is about me holding on, not wanting to let go and make space for clarity.

I like your take on decluttering. If you notice an area that needs decluttering it is ready to be looked at and cleared. This is exactly the same in our lives. While we need old patterns and behaviours they will remain invisible and comfortable. It is not until we can see them and realise that they don’t belong in our lives any more that we are ready to clear them out for good.

I feel it is a profound sharing you have made, Golnaz, not to ‘beat yourself up’ and feel you have not succeeded when discovering there is more to do but, “in fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come”.

I love what you have shared here Golnaz. I have realised I have much to do, not in the overwhelm kind of way. I especially love that you offer that de-cluttering is something that is ongoing – it removes the need for the perfect house/life and that we let go of things in our own time. I can still feel that a few things are overdue however.

I love how you invited a friend to support you. I am living in a house that is in desperate need of de-clutter and intense cleaning. I feel we have collected too much stuff and have cluttered our house which reflects how we feel. I live with my 2 children, partner and dog in a house we are currently renovating. It is a major project but along the way we have allowed ourselves to live in disarray and disregard. I have recently started to de-clutter and clean an area at a time and not to go into overwhelm. It feels so beautiful to cleanse and clear my house and making it part of my weekly things to do so that it is continuous, never ending, not let it get out of hand or fall into the too hard basket. By accepting cleaning and de-clutter as part of my everyday life and approach it from a loving way feels great.

Loved your playful blog Golnaz. It is indeed great to observe that in my life, and house, there can always be a deeper level. And the next level presents itself when I am ready for it. No need to take it on, all at once.

I’m planning to clean a small area in my garage soon and re-read this. Thank you for the wisdom of “tackle one thing at a time at a pace I am ready for” and “enlisting support and inspiration when I feel I need it is being self-loving and responsible”. A great reminder.

It was very timely for me to read your blog Golnaz, just as I am de-cluttering and downsizing in a major way in preparation for a move. I have so much stuff that I simply do not need, and letting go of piles of unused articles has been freeing, liberating and actually wonderful! It’s a big job, but it really feels like I’m down sizing to make room for expansion – of the energetic type!

I recently de-cluttered my whole apartment plus basement- it felt to absolutely amazing, I can´t put it in words- I breathed always very deeply and exhaled with an ease, when I threw it away…Like: you can go now. And I didn´t mean only the material I threw away 😉

I love the simplicity of your blog and the metaphors used to show how ‘everything is energy’ – the relationship to your de-cluttering both physically of your flat and energetically of your patterns and beliefs – the fact that our physical reality echoes our energetic reality.
Sorry, got to go – I’m off to de-clutter my home!

So true, there are definitely layers aren’t there?
I have recently packed up our house to move and although I know I cleared out
a lot I know that I will have to be disciplined and go through the boxes as I unpack.
I’m finding the last couple of days that I need to apply this de cluttering
to my computer. Thanks Golnaz

Golnaz I could feel how much you enjoyed your de-cluttering process and how you brought this into your life as well. I have done a lot of de-cluttering in the last few years but I know I have been putting off the garage, de-cluttering occasionally and then allowing things to fill it up again. Time for a deeper de-clutter here I feel, and not just the garage.

Thank you for your love and inspiration in writing this blog Golnaz. I am in the process of settling into my new flat having moved from a larger home. De-cluttering has been part of the process as I have gradually found new places to fit in what is necessary and to let go of all that was not supporting me in my new home. I have always enjoyed the process of clearing out any unnecessary clutter in my home, but not always so willing to let go of the clutter in my mind. This part is now becoming more urgent as I require clarity to support me in life and I need to commit fully to this so my life and home can then flow in harmony. I love your three bullet points as they will allow me to not become caught up in the overwhelm of commitment.

I am going through a similar process. Area by area. It is a very appreciative way of clearing the place/area. I have now picked up the area ‘clothes’ and particularly winter clothes. I decided to not keep the clothes anymore which I haven’t worn, whether they were new, not worn or good quality. I am going through a process of saying goodbye to my mind giving me excuses to keep things. My body just showed me the past months that I never wanted to put on these clothes. Hello?! What a reflection. It shows me that often I know what is truthful for me, but just seem to ignore that sometimes. So now, I smile at the bag with winter clothes ready to go out.

I love your blog Golnaz, and I do love a good de-clutter! And I am finding that de-cluttering is actually an ongoing and daily process of identifying what I am holding on to that doesn’t have a place in my life, or in my home, anymore. I am also finding that the “clutter” has a sneaky way of settling itself into places before I am aware of its presence, so I am learning that the more I grow my awareness the less chance it has of hiding out of sight. And like you, I know that “I could in fact re-visit each area and go deeper”, as yes, there is always another level waiting to be de-cluttered; such a beautiful process that always leaves me with a feeling of spaciousness and increased clarity.

I love this article Golnaz and the connection you make between de-cluttering our living surroundings and dealing with our issues. Each are a complication to stop feeling the truth of who we are and the amazing simplicity we potentially could be living with. I find one supports the other – as I develop going deeper with dealing with my issues and feel the space in my body open up so I need to clear the space I live in to reflect the same.

Golnaz your article has sparked a reminder that a place doesn’t need to be cluttered but you can start to feel that items in the home that felt great and just right are now not the case. Making slight adjustments can change the feel of many rooms and places in a home with minimal disruption.

I love this blog and I was about to read something else, but am very pleased I have clicked on this one. I have had a habit of running away but more recently decided to stay and look at some issues. What I love is that you have said all of the things that I have been feeling: go slowly and stay focused looking at one bit at a time as they arise; that way we are able to see more clearly the significant steps that we have taken, otherwise we can often become overwhelmed, think bad of ourselves and give up on the whole project all together. It reminds me of the analogy of learning to walk before we can run.

What an awesome, supportive and encouraging blog, when we need to ask for help in areas of our life. And to tackle one area of ones life at a time, all these points that you raised feel very supportive and stop me going into overwhelm.
Many thanks for your insights Golnaz.

I love this suggestion, it makes looking at life and the issues we feel we need to work through tangible, and also realistic to deal with “I could look at my life as a big project like my flat, and see each issue as an area requiring a de-clutter.” How can an issue be too big to deal with, if we work through one area or issue at a time. It reminds me of the value of being understanding with ourselves.

The interesting thing about de-cluttering is that it is usually waiting to be done for some time until we get around to it. It’s a part of our evolution until we reach the point where accumulating clutter is just not a part of the way we live.

This is a seriously great blog Golnaz, that, as I have said just keeps giving. When I read it today it is like the blog supports me to see the ‘where to’ next in my life. There are some areas that are louder than others where the ‘de-cluttering’ is required. One is louder today for me than the others and I know that is the first place for me to go. Thanks again Golnaz I will be back again.

I have still much to learn and discover here. Once when I moved house I got really bad gastro…and I could absolutely link it to clearing stuff out of my body.
I am currently in the process of moving house again, and this time I lovingly supported myself to go gently through this process by giving myself plenty of time. I still got sick. Although I supported myself physically, I feel I can still go deeper with how I support myself. A work in progress.

Thank you for sharing how your body has mirrored the clearing out of the stuff in your house both times you engaged with this process in a big way. What an amazing reflection of how all our choices have far more powerful impact than the immediate task at hand.

Golnaz what I really got from reading your article was how you see what you still have left to do as a sign of how much you’ve already done. That’s such a great way of looking at things, as it’s easy to continually see the amount of work that it ahead of us rather than appreciate the amount of work we’ve already done to get to where we are.

I absolutely LOVE de-cluttering, and similar to cleaning, where things feel just so lovely and fresh, clear and flowing. In fact Golnaz this post has affirmed to me not only the great benefits of doing this, but also the pull I’ve been feeling recently towards doing this in my home. Signalling that there are things I have cleared, ready for there to be more available space free. I also find that the moon phases have an effect, and that when the moon is waning, I tend to enjoy getting rid of things – like washing with clean water the bubbles off a soapy plate. Feels so good, and so clean: )

Great metaphore: decluttering your home is decluttering your life. I have experienced the same. Also that it is ongoing. When I clean up an area or a room in my house, new things get reveiled. I see them, but not immediately act upon them. One step at a time. Appreciation is an important aspect here, just for the areas I clean ánd for what I am willing to see to focus on next.

Gorgeous Golnaz. I love that there is no end to the deepening of self-love that we can live and that ‘In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.’ – a beautiful and powerful confirmation, appreciation and reflection of the love you have already chosen to live and the ‘more of you’ is awaiting to be lived. Beautifully inspiring.

Thank you Golnaz, your blog has given me an opportunity to feel and look at my house. It feels great to appreciate how I have decluttered my house big time over the last few years. I love how that feels in my house and in my body. I have recently moved to another house and only my bedroom has two corners that need decluttering and organising now. I have been postponing this but today I will lovingly give time and energy to celebrate the amazing woman that I am.

Great blog Golnaz, I can definitely see the connection to how the way you’ve cleaned out your flat is a great basis for clearing out your issues too. ‘The fact that I was not ready to de-clutter some areas did not mean I was not committed to clearing my flat. In fact, my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive as well as deeply self-loving.’ To me, that’s being ready for what ever comes up when it needs to come up, letting it all happen when it needs to.

Thank you Golnaz. I have to tell you I was inspired by your blog and have been de-cluttering. I am loving how it feels like I am cleaning cobwebbed areas out of my life, my clothes and the different spaces in our home. Each space I do feel lighter on much more than just the physical level. A lesson in energy plain and simple. 🙂

It was lovely to read the way you felt about your awareness that there was more de-cluttering to do. There was no heaviness or feeling of “oh no I have just done that” or even drive to tick off a to-do list. You felt inspired to see what else you could change and bring more light and space to. What a lovely way to be in your home and with yourself.

De-cluttering life is a great metaphor to consider how much just in case things we carry in our repertoire of how we can do life in the knowing that a great part of it does not really evolve us but holds us back.

Loved your timely blog Golnaz. I have time today and feel inclined to clear some clutter in a couple of rooms. As you mentioned to concentrate on one area or room at a time is a good idea. I look for ward to going deeper too as I know de-cluttering brings to light much to look at and let go of. With thanks.

That is a good one Golnaz although, you have decluttered the first time you can go back for a deeper look as there is always going to be more stuff to look at and sort out and the more time passes the more simple and clear our flats will be.

I remember we moved 3 times in 3 years once, after being a very long time in one place. It took this many moves to really de-clutter, there were always little corners , or boxes, that just didn’t get looked at . It is great to look in all the corners and see whats there, and then to see if it still serves.

I agree Chris, we have also moved 3 times in the last three years and even to this day are still lugging things around from thirty years ago. So much has gone which feels like a huge relief but there is still a lot more to find new homes for – it’s seems that we spend years accumulating stuff and then spend years trying to get rid of it.

Thank you Golnas, I loved reading your blog. I’m going through a house renovation and have realised where there are so many areas left not tended to. Having to look at it all has been quite revealing and well worth doing.

This quote feels very understanding and accepting of yourself, and that is awesome…”The fact that I was not ready to de-clutter some areas did not mean I was not committed to clearing my flat. In fact, my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive as well as deeply self-loving.” So often we are can be hard on ourselves, expecting to sort everything out at once and feeling that there is just ‘too’ much to do…however focusing on an area in life and moving on to the next can be a wonderful way of approaching, a big house clean up or a self development issue. Thank you.

There is some thing refreshing about de-cluttering. Like moving something old and stuck and not needed any more. It is very confirming to myself that as I change so does the things around me need to change too.

De-cluttering can certainly be a ‘moving’ process, like saying goodbye to old friends who have been significant and supported you in the past. On revisiting them you realise you’ve moved on, where they’ve remained suspended in time. You can feel the relationships no longer serve you, in fact you begin to know they are taking up valuable space that could otherwise be free and open to new and amazing possibilities.

In re reading your blog I have realised I love de cluttering which is good right … this second read highlighted my past reluctance to engage help as I am a ‘can do type of girl’ and can do it quicker more efficiently etc… Now I am asking for support in some areas but realise the hesitation despite the fact I always help others but never feel I can impose on another for there support unless paid for. This has been in my awareness for a while now so it’s time to go deeper in trusting my relationship with myself.

This is a lovely and inspiring blog to return to Golnaz. I really relate to your analogy of decluttering a room and decluttering our old patterns and thoughts. I have begun another round of decluttering at home and I really appreciated your acceptance that working on one area at a time is the way to go, so as not to get overwhelmed. Thank you.

It was great to come upon this blog again today as I have just spent a couple of hours cleaning out my whole pantry and getting rid of items I no longer use. I can feel I am making space to look at what and how I eat as I know changes are needing to be made in my diet as well which will be more supportive. My pantry feels so spacious now and I have been enjoying opening the door and just looking at the array of herbs and spices etc which are sitting there ready and waiting for what is next.

What has really surprised me is how quickly it comes around that I need to re-evaluate how my home is set out and the things I find in it. I am a very organised person yet I am always still finding areas that require refinement. It is so beautiful to offer myself this organisation in my life as it allow me the space to just be without clutter cluttering my space, clutter leads to feelings of overwhelm for me.

Yes I agree Toni, clutter leads to feelings of overwhelm for me too even in the day to day living eg. when the children haven’t tidied their toys after themselves or the paperwork comes through the post gets left. There is always something to be done to have a clear, organised space. I too love being organised in the home. I love simplicity within the home and with that comes clarity, however, I can easily go into overwhelm when there is clutter around me and can easily distract myself from not getting any of it done! Toni’s comment has taken me deeper in realising the qualities I bring to my home and how supporting they are for the whole family. It has made me realise my lack of appreciation for myself and how this lack of appreciation contributes to my wellbeing. Thank you Toni for your comment.

“In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come”. I love this. It is a great confirmation of evolution sit is a true reflection that we have let go and moved on from aspects of ourselves that had been holding us back. A true ‘de-cluttering’.

Thanks Golnaz for the reminder of the benefits of de-cluttering in the home. For me it is like I have put my toes in the water with clearing a small cupboard but are not willing to put my whole self in in clearing other areas especially my clothing for fear of what this might bring up. Love your idea of having someone to support while you’re in the process of de-cluttering and that clearing one area at a time so not to get overwhelmed. This blog in itself has been a great support and inspirational and I say to myself stop resisting and just go there.

Golnaz, there goes that perfection excuse. to see that by being willing to look at one area, take it at my pace in a loving supportive way is huge for me to understand and feel. I don’t have to do it all at once, and indeed that’s a great game as overwhelm can kick in and then give up. But slow and steady, bit by bit, is the way and the joy I feel today reading your piece and reflecting on how far I’ve come is very healing and a real stop and appreciate moment. Thank you.

“Now that we have almost gone around de-cluttering every bit of my flat, I am aware most areas have just had the first go. I could in fact re-visit each area and go deeper.”
Totally relate to this experience, Golnaz … I’ve very recently had a couple who are dear friends stay with me for 10 days whilst we attended to some home maintenance. She and I did EVERY cupboard in my small 2 bedrm duplex – I had no idea I had so many cupboards! – including the garage. I am now doing second and third rounds of some of the cupboards and indeed it is possible to just keep going deeper with each round, it’s amazing. Highly recommended!

I love the idea of just taking one thing at a time to de-clutter, whether that is life or just your flat. There is sometimes a very idealistic notion that everything needs to be clean and cleared, all at once RIGHT NOW. Usually as a result I end up in overwhelm and decide to watch a movie and do it later, so nothing gets done. But by allowing myself to focus on one area, be that my desk or working on a project for a set amount of time, I can rally focus on it and not have all of the other stuff knocking around in my head at the same time. Thank you for this, Golnaz!

It is so very timely coming back to your blog today Golnaz as I have embarked on another level of clutter clearing. I had actually convinced myself I had very little clutter left to sort out, but soon realised that I was only kidding myself. And like you: “my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive as well as deeply self-loving.” – and with no overwhelm to weigh me down the clearing out process is so much easier and stress free – it seems to flow so simply – and the change in the energy of the area that has been cleared, and correspondingly in me, is so very tangible.

Very profound blog Golnaz. This is a beautiful reflection of how essential and powerful appreciation is in building our confidence and confirming who we are which allows us to then choose to go deeper to discover more of the wonderment the we are in essence. This was equally gorgeous to read again – thank you.

I love the acceptance and appreciation Golnaz has for herself while she de-clutters her flat “… my ability to acknowledge there are issues to be worked on, and my choice to engage with the process in itself, shows how amazing I am. It is fine, and in fact useful, to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for” – this is so honouring. Thank you Golnaz for sharing.

I love this Golnaz, I have read it before and I will read it again. It always makes me re-evaluate the amount of clutter I have in my life. As you say it is an ongoing process. For me I get rid of a load of stuff only to have more arrive on the scene. My work van is a good example, if not kept in order on a daily basis things can get quite out of hand in a very short time.

Golnaz your blog touched me deeply because I can relate and because it feels so true. It is amazing how you discovered and felt the parallel between de-cluttering your flat and yourself. I have started to de-clutter my own house and your words help me to understand the process better and made me realize how important it is to appreciate every step I make, no matter how small and no matter how long it takes me to get it done. Thank you Golnaz you are pretty amazing.

‘Also the fact that I could see the possibility to do more in many areas by no means reduced the fact that amazing, celebration-worthy changes had already been made. In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.’

‘De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself.’

How lovely to have a friend along to help and support you while de-cluttering Golnaz. Something I could do when next I have a de-cluttering session. De-cluttering is certainly an ongoing process. So beautiful that you recognise in yourself ‘that there is always a deeper level of amazingness you can develop’ while in the process of clearing your home.

What you present here Golnaz applies beautifully to the way my body feels with Esoteric Healing and to my whole life too. When we approach simplifying so steadily and consistently as you do, it becomes a beautiful ongoing process. Because just like your words, each choice to let go unlocks a new area for review. Thank you.

What a lovely reminder Golnaz that we can always go deeper; I just love how you have expressed this;
“In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come”
Feels and sounds like a very beautiful thing to do with a treasured friend; decluttering together.

I love the loving attitude and appreciation you have about decluttering your flat and what this reflects to you about life and yourself. It is deeply inspiring how powerful something like this can be and how honouring and healing it can be when done like you have.

Once we take the lid of, once we choose to look within and to wake up, so to speak, then yes, the unravelling of one could say lifetimes of accumulated stuff is embarked upon… the wonderful thing is … how much space it creates..:-)

So enjoyed reading this sharing again Golnaz. Although I’ve recently moved and felt on the initial moving in process of all our items that, less was best. It felt spacious and light. Now it feels a little crowded again and found more items starting to work their way in to corners, cupboards and underneath building piles of clothes/boxes etc that need to be sorted out. Refreshingly reading this again I’m inspired to look at one area at a time rather than try and sort out the complete package which looks and feels a little daunting. Create space to allow more of that beautiful light in.

It is simply gorgeous to feel how much love and appreciation you hold yourself in. It’s such an inspiration to feel how consistent and solid you are in making your choice to be love. Thank you for sharing, Golnaz.

I really appreciate the point made – “my choice to focus on one area at a time and avoid overwhelming myself was very productive as well as deeply self-loving.” There is a need to be very tender with oneself as a process of clearing occurs, whether it be in ones house or body. No haste, urgency or expectation, just coming back to harmony in one’s life.

This is so beautiful Golnaz as for me it highlights how important appreciation is. When we appreciate the space we have freed up so we can expand the love we are, we establish a new foundation based on this love that we are. And from here we build our confidence to deepen again and expose another layer of denseness that we can let go of, allowing us again to expand with love. This also reveals how everything in our lives is interconnected, that everything we do is a choice which has a meaning and an effect. Thank you Golnaz for this inspiring sharing of the endless amazing love that we are within, waiting to be explored.

Golnaz, it is lovely to feel your acceptance and celebration of each step and that you are not in any way putting yourself down for what you haven’t yet done. This is a great example to me of how I can be more self-loving for I had a standard of perfection that was hard to live up to and so there was a constant undermining of myself which left no space for appreciation of who I am.

This is a lovely blog to read Golnaz and I totally concur that our home and all of it’s stuff does correlate very well with us and as we change one we feel the need to make some changes to the other. If each room is a map of us then where we place things can be extremely important. I have noticed that I can be quite minimalistic in some areas of my home but in others not so, this can be telling as to where we are dumping stuff – lots to ponder on here, thank you for sharing.

Thank you Golnaz for sharing a great blog, when I am in the cluttered space I feel an un settled feeling in my body, so I love to declutter it gives me a sense of spaciousness and order. I am looking at the patterns and habits in my life and feel the same clearing out needed , slowly little by little this is happening.

Awesome Jill, it is so true, I feel the same after de-cluttering. I would really like to work my way through my whole house to de-clutter, clean and tidy all areas and then go back and do it all again because by the time I finish my 1st round it’s time to start again. If I can just keep this momentum and cycle of constant clearing, cleaning and tidying up this would feel so amazing. I know what I have to do, but it’s doing it that’s the difficult part. If I look at everything as cycles and accepting that there is no need for an end result then it doesn’t seem so daunting and to tackle it a step at a time.

Golnaz I just love how you share in your blog the correlation between our homes and the clutter that can accumulate there that needs to be sorted, organised and tidied, or discarded if it’s no longer useful, and the clutter that can accumulate as issues, ideals and beliefs in our daily lives that we also need to let go of. Its so true.

Further, the lightness that we feel after we have a good clear and clean out of the material clutter in our homes feels very much the same as when we let got of the emotional clutter we have accumulated in our daily lives. Great blog Golnaz.

Re-reading your blog Golnaz is inspiring me to de-clutter my house again. Like you shared, we can always go deeper and when I do commit to doing this it feels amazing, light and fun. There is one area that I walk past everyday and it is almost screaming at me to clear. I will work on it so I don’t have to see it every time I walk past. To do things when I know they need to be done instead of delaying it is what I am learning.

I’ve never had a problem with giving or throwing things away, but it has made me stop and wonder why. A past hurt that I haven’t dealt or no longer want to be reminded of – gone, clothing that I think might makes me look and be a certain way ? gone or kept because it keeps us locked in thinking that. How much I value the things I have to support myself.

Golnaz, I loved the way you were able to see the other side of the coin where you could appreciate/celebrate the realisation that something needs to be cleared out and that baby steps were OK. It is way too easy to be overwhelmed when we know there is an area of our life that needs de-cluttering but as we procrastinate about going there, the mess gets bigger and the pressure on ourselves grows larger. The transformation in ourselves and our environments are awesome when we do get in and face what is going on.

My trick has been to amass large amounts of ‘stuff’ that I am quite emotionally attached to; a trinket here, a letter there, old journals, broken jewelry that will never get fixed, that strange object that no one really knows what its use is but don’t throw it out because ‘it just might come in handy one day!’….you get the picture. Then, when the time comes that I feel I can’t breathe because of the sea of clutter I am drowning in, I throw up my hands in complete overwhelm and say ‘It’s too hard, I don’t know where to start’. So what you share here makes complete sense Golnaz. De-cluttering our lives, whether it be old shoeboxes full of ‘stuff’ or old ideals and beliefs that do not serve us, is a task best done with support and with the understanding that there is no final picture, it is an ever deepening process, for just as the Universe has no end point, neither do we. We are part of great cycles that offer us the opportunity to forever expand and evolve.

I love reading this blog and the sentence, “De-cluttering is an on-going, forever deepening project that will never end, because there is always a deeper level of amazingness I can develop – in my flat and myself” I always find a powerful support to engage positively with life when there seems so much to do. At the present moment it feels very apt and poignant as my wife and I get ready to complete the last few jobs to complete our move to a new home and all that establishing a new one brings.

Ahh the clutter and disorder which is a common theme across our lives not just in the the physical manifestation in our rooms and offices but also within ourselves. What I sense from your blog is a pulling up of responsibility, to not let things get disorderly and cluttered and leave it till another time as we tend to do. This creates a disservice for others as we are not truly able to be fully ourselves if we live in disorder and mess

Celebrating that we are aware that we know we can go deeper, means that we are willing to see the next level of depth. Thats an awesome way to look at de-cluttering and also other things, what comes to my mind first was cleaning, we know something needs addressing, we are aware that it’s presence disturbs us. Rather than avoiding it and cursing our awareness approaching it with ‘I know the next steps, they are right here for me, lets see what happens’ is amazing. Thank you Golnaz.

Awesome article Golnaz. I’ve been an organised hoarder over the years and I still have a tendency to hold on to stuff ‘just in case’. I’m more open to working on the clutter in my life these days, so the need to hold on everything is slowly dissipating. It feels really good to clear stuff out of the way.

Decluttering is a great way to clear out the old, both temporally and energetically. I recently had a huge clear out and felt a real letting go of all that I was holding on to. I totally agree that the more we are detached from the worldly things in our lives and can clear them, re-organise and declutter the more we are open to evolving and living the Love we are.

Every time I’m about to have a clearing out/de-clutter session up pop your inspirational blog Golnaz. It’s like I gain some very useful tips, and appreciating not going into drive and overwhelm to get it done. Also for me to not hold back and ask for help when lifting the heavy items – so much more self-loving.

We are so Cluttered inside… we have taken on so much that there is certainly no room for our hearts to expand… so yes … de-cluttering on all levels is needed, then we can feel an internal spaciousness that is simply delightful!

This is a great point Golnaz that when you see something needing decluttering or cleaning, you appreciate that you are seeing it and are choosing to offer yourself a more supportive space. It is much more common to notice it and go into resistance and begrudging, which probably takes more energy than the actual cleaning!

I like your approach to this process of de-cluttering Golnaz. Taking one step at a time and appreciating the quality in which that step is walked is a great way to prevent the ‘overwhelm’ that many of us otherwise succumb to in such a process. Thus the key here, as in life (as taught by Serge Benhayon and the Ageless Wisdom) is to walk small steps and master every one. This way we never get ahead of ourselves, nor are we left behind.

I just read a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: “Out of clutter, find simplicity”. Which to me says that the nature of the Universe is not random, chaotic or dense even though it holds A LOT of ‘stuff’. The nature of the Universe is inherently simple and based on a precision and order that would leave even a de-cluttering expert astounded. We are amazed simply because we have forgotten the divine order of which we are an inherent part of. It is actually very, very normal to express this simplicity and precision for we are each made of the same matter that is governed by these laws. Therefore, the act of de-cluttering is a reclaiming or the divine orderliness that we know we are from, but have strayed from living.

Golnaz, I love the symbolism in what you have shared. Everything in life is a reflection of what lays within us and this experience has allowed you to see so much depth within you. To care for our body is loving and to care for the space around us is equally as loving – we are amazing.

Dear Golnaz
I felt to read your blog this morning as I am dealing with another layer of de-cluttering today.
Historically, I have allowed hoarding and clutter in my life by putting things off to deal with later, yet later never seems to come. And what is not dealt with gathers a heavy energy that repels and so I avoid it.

Over the last year I have de-cluttered most aspects of my life and house and it has been tremendously supportive and evolutionary; tackling one thing at a time. Yet what I celebrated, appreciated and was evolutionary is no longer because I am being called to go deeper, into the area that I have neglected – my accounting and keeping track of my finance in general.

I found it very supportive to see this as an ever-deepening process rather than trying to sort it all out all at once, for this is my resistance this morning, feeling that one weekend will not be enough time to do it all. Beginning feels like the most important step.

I also liked that you asked for help to help stop overwhelm when you could feel your resistance. I have asked for help this morning and am feeling trepidation, shame even, for allowing things to drop into disarray. I’m not really even sure how my friend will be able to help me to do something that I needed to do for myself? But as I write, I am feeling myself surrender to the support to clear whatever resistance is in the way of me sorting out something that is really quite simple.

Our homes are great reflections of where we’re at and how we’re living our lives. Love what you say about readiness. Sometimes we’re so stubborn that we’ll leave paper piles unattended for weeks and months or a cupboard or attic unopened. These are definitely reflections of where we’re unwilling to go deeper in our own lives. But the relief and sense of space and freedom when we finally tackle both the physical and the developmental is tremendous and makes us wonder why we didn’t deal with it way earlier.

Simplicity is an essence, it is an awareness that if we all understood and lived with this, we would be able to feel so many of life’s paradoxes unravel, because the body, if left to its own devices, keeps things really simple… Our thoughts are the things that really complicate life.

I am on a de-cluttering program at the moment and I have to say I have been surprised what has opened up at home. With this communication is opening up with my partner at home and the more we look at our clutter together the more this is opening up our relationships. It’s actually quite fascinating and very lovely.

I must feel so good to get in every corner of the space that you live. We all know that as much as we resist it, the joy of living in a clear and organised space is nothing short of amazing. So if the above is true, then could it be possible that working through our emotionally issues and connection issues might be the way for us to develop in society rather than sweeping our issues under the metaphorical carpet. Self development like what you have shared in this blog supports greatly.

I love the parallel between your flat and your life. After reading this blog more than a couple of times since you wrote it, it still helps me take a look at the clutter, (manly in my office) and at me and areas that maybe I still haven’t got around to looking at and dealing with.

It is true that clearing our cluttering makes space in our living space as well as our bodies. Quite often once I clear a space or cupboard I am usually surprised about how much I get rid of. It’s like when it was there in situ I didn’t bother feeling the effect of it as it was familiar and this is the same when an issue is freed from my body – whilst it was there the behaviours and or how I was with it were familiar so was not paying full attention to the effect it was having on me or others.

A great reflection thank you for sharing. I love how you mentioned doing ‘one area at a time’ whilst being aware of the whole. Sometimes we can become overwhelmed when we discover the circumstances we have made for ourselves, so this is a practical example of how to take one step at a time with change.

Great blog Golnaz. As our home is a great reflection of ourselves so it is interesting to observe just where we tend to clutter. De-cluttering is also the ultimate diet as why we hang onto stuff and why we eat more than we need are for the very same reasons; fear of not having enough is one of many. When we are shedding extra baggage that is no longer needed we are creating space where there was none. I am inspired to do another round of sorting stuff out today myself for what have I got to lose except accept clutter?.

“My ability to acknowledge there are issues to be worked on, and my choice to engage with the process in itself, shows how amazing I am. It is fine, and in fact useful, to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for” – this is such a beautiful statement. I love it. Sometimes I feel a bit daunted by the fact that there’s more – but what you are saying is so true, it means that we are seeing more and that is worth celebrating in itself.

Life is truly beautiful Golnaz, as how we live is reflected by our surroundings and if that space where we live in feels that it needs de-cluttering that is then a reflection of the fact that also something in ourselves needs to be looked at and discarded. How amazing is that! That with cleaning and de-cluttering our houses, we not only work on making the environment we live in more beautiful, but also and maybe more important, we are de-cluttering our inner most in which we create space to hold more love that we held before, instead of the stuff we held onto for any reason we ever have chosen.

Clearing out clutter can be very well compared to working on the issues we encounter in our everyday life. It is a great thing to feel that taking on these issues, and working on solving what is in the way to go deeper in our amazingness is proving how amazing we are. In working on this, I can feel how important it is to appreciate every step, however small it is doesn’t matter, and it is a process of small steps, taking the time we need is deeply honouring of ourselves.

I loved your blog Golnaz, thank you, it is great how loving you were with your self, taking it gently. Looking at issues that come up in my life as a declutter, habit patterns that are no longer useful or never truly were, I am now ready to clear out, it is so simple when looked at from the idea of decluttering.

I loved your blog Golnaz, thank you, it is great how loving you were with your self, taking it gently. Looking at issues that come up in my life as a declutter, habit patterns that are no longer useful or never truly were, I am now ready to clear out, it is so simple when looked at from the idea of decluttering.

I love the fact that you enlisted help from a supportive friend and didn’t force the issue either by rushing yourself, but instead took one area at a time. Great wisdom in that and it doesn’t overwhelm either. Thank you for your sharing Golnaz.

We sometimes need a little support to attend to certain things, and de-cluttering is one of those tasks. Having a friend’s perspective and an un-attachment to the space needing clearing can make the task so much more than just a tidy up.

I love this Golnaz and what a beautiful approach to de-cluttering our issues and life. I love de-cluttering my house and am forever going deeper. It feels clear and then all of a sudden one day there is an area that is not ok anymore, even though yesterday it was. Looking at my inner self like this changes things and feels much more gentle and supportive. Things reveal themselves layer by layer.

It’s really obvious that we feel clear, more focused and life is more simple when we have a clean and de-cluttered space. I’m amazed that this is not discussed more in school or even in health care and mental health support.

I know when I de-clutter my house it feels much lighter and more spacious and so do I. Reading this I became aware of the de-cluttering I have been avoiding in my own life but your blog inspired me to ask a friend that is very organised and will offer great support to begin this process.

I was recently asked by a friend to help de-clutter her wardrobe. We had fun looking at each item and deciding whether it should stay or go. She got rid of several bags of unwanted clothing that had been taking up space in her wardrobe for years. I think its a great idea to enlist help as the other person can help ask those questions you may not want to ask yourself.

‘It is fine, and in fact useful, to tackle one thing at a time and at a pace I am ready for.’ This is where I have come unstuck in the past Golnaz. I set myself a task to do it all, and because it feels so big, I end up not doing anything and it gets left. I am learning to be gentler with myself like you clearly have been and do a bit at a time. Once I start, I end up doing more than I planned anyway.

I have some boxes of various knick-knacks I have been carting around for over a decade. I only ever look in the boxes when we are moving. Your blog has reminded me they are there and I’m feeling I might be ready to let them go.

“I am aware most areas have just had the first go. I could in fact re-visit each area and go deeper.”

This is the key to avoiding overwhelm. How many of us dive head first into our clutter, be it our in our house or in our body (our issues), only to emerge in complete overwhelm at the task ahead? By tackling this as you have Golnaz, and I do love the metaphor, we are better able to peel back the layers that have come to obscure that which is true in our essence. An essence we have covered up with layers and layers of debris (hurts) that we have learnt to identify with. We are not the mess, we are the magnificent space that lays beneath it.

“In fact, my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.”
There lives within us a vastness that we have not yet even begun to tap into. This vastness is our love and it is what we, the stars and the universe are made up of. There is no end to the depth we can go, all we need do is remove that which seeks to block the natural flow to do so.

I love the concept of appreciating that you are ready within yourself to go deeper when you feel something needs de-cluttering… it is a beautiful marker of being open to what’s next in a forever unfolding process.

Golnaz, I loved reading of your experiences in de-cluttering your flat. I find clearing things that I now no longer need or use is an ongoing process as the more I clear the more I become aware of what is there to be cleared. Now that I have greatly reduced my clutter I actually love getting into my cupboards to see what else I can let go of in my life.

“When I spot that more work is required in an area it is worth celebrating my readiness to go deeper” – this is a beautiful reminder, and a very inspiring one, too. Thanks, Golnaz. When I find out I have to re-visit an area I previously attended, I have often felt as though I didn’t do good enough job back then. I can feel constant appreciation is in order for me.

I was watching the leaves as I was walking, it is autumn here in the UK, and many leaves are falling from their branches. It is lovely to watch this and how unique this is in so many ways, the species of tree, where it is growing, its aspect and so on, this made me reflect that we all let go when we are ready to. Accepting this and embracing us in this process is beautiful.

Thank you Golnaz, I need to also tackle clutter in a house that is not yet fully unpacked after moving, and there are so many boxes that to view it all at once is a sure fire way to just give up. I will indeed tackle it bit by bit, and area by area. It feels very supportive also to just focus on one small area of the house at a time in terms of decorating and making it shine and reflect the love I feel for myself.

De-cluttering is a never ending process. I love how you break down how you tackled it – into areas that supported you. Dealing with one area at a time is so sensible – otherwise the feeling of overwhelm is so huge – and then nothing even gets started!

I love Golnaz that you asked for support. It is very self-loving when realise we are feeling a little overwhelmed and most people do when it comes to de-cluttering especially if they have been in resistance or avoidance. Just asking for support to declutter confirms the intention that, yes I am ready to put my home and my life in divine order no matter how long it takes.

It feels great to be appreciating the ever on-going journey of de-cluttering our lives, and accepting the human-ness of re-visiting this over and over. We have expressions like “spring cleaning” that suggest a known fact that we need to do this over and over in cycles as things can sneak in in between if we are not vigilant. It feels so wonderful when its done too, and some of my best childhood memories are around “doing my bedroom” in the school holidays with my mother.

There is such a parallel between clutter inside and outside of us. Just cleaning the house and re-imprinting the way it feels is important and like yesterday makes a huge difference to me and my life. I just noticed the clutter photo at the top of this! You can feel it, inspiring a good turn out.

Tidying up for when we have guests is a great trigger point to de-clutter for me. Of course tidying for me and for us is the essential thing to appreciate but it does help me to get round to it, and to look at it through fresh eyes.

Great blog to re-read for the beginning of the New Year Golnaz.
Standing in my kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil this morning, I suddenly felt a strong impulse to go through my herbs and spices and throw out anything that was out of date, along with an old herb carousel that takes up un- necessary room in the cupboard. This feels so great in my body, an instant lightness as they went in the rubbish bin!

How beautiful to read Golnaz. It is indeed a great metaphor for life and how tangled up we get into patterns and behaviours that we at some point not even see anymore who we are! This kind of clutter is to be approached step by step and just like with decluttering our houses, flats etc, it is not healthy to think we will be able to let go of everything at once.

When we declutter our houses we declutter our lives, and this is why it is so worth it to take and make the time to do it. That said, many people can feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start initially as the whole house needs attention, so I love how you asked for support Golnaz, which feels very loving and honouring of where you were at. When we are ready to go deeper with ourselves, there will always be support; but we do have to ‘ask’.

So any women, and I was one of them just soldier on, struggle on, and don’t think to ask for support because we have become so independent….. I had to learn to not only ask but allow support in my life, and you are right Golnaz, it is truly self-loving to do so.

Great to re-read this blog, especially as one of my favourite pastimes is to de-clutter, but whilst reading I could still feel like there is a picture of having arrived at something once the house is ‘perfect’, whereas what I know the truth to be is that it is a never ending process of clearings and deepening the relationship I have with my home, and myself. Thank you Golnaz.

‘I could look at my life as a big project like my flat, and see each issue as an area requiring a de-clutter’ I love this. As we let go of the old we make room for the new and how much clarity we feel in body and mind as we go through this process.

I find it amazing that there are times when it is very easy for me to clean up and declutter and there are areas of our house that are always easy to keep clean and decluttered but there are other areas where it is harder for me to always keep them clean and simple.

What is most inspiring about your process here Golnaz, is that you are appreciating yourself at every step of the way.
We need not be ‘perfect’ (what is perfection, anyway)), and it is well worth acknowledging the depth of old patterns and held-onto ways we may be letting go when we undertake such a clearing – and appreciating that we now stand at such a point, with a foundation within that holds us in doing so.
And then, YES to the space that emerges, for it allows more of who we truly are the room to be, and express…

Around and around the cycle of decluttering goes not just in our living space our home, but the decluttering of our issues within our being, allowing more space for who we truly are to emerge, I love how you are appreciating yourself and taking one area at a time to work on “my ability to know I could go deeper was testament to how far I had come.”inspiring words thank you Gyl.

I love this and it’s perfect to read this today! It’s so important to understand that we can commit to something and then focus one area at a time, rather than allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed and attempt it all at once, and that we can support ourselves as we need – a great reminder for me just now.

I wonder what a totally decluttered life would look like, I almost feel like I am continually discarding stuff and refining my life, your blog makes me wonder exactly what life would look like if we didn’t constantly accumulate and build stuff up… perhaps it would be that every choice we made would be in line with the future, so that when the future came, there would not be the need to discard or declutter that previous choice.

Beautiful Amiee – it’s true, even the slightest detail moved into another position can transform a space and how we move in that space. Essentially, it is about honouring what we feel in every moment and our belongings and living environment reflect that relationship.

De-cluttering is indeed forever and on going; it is reflective of how we are in our bodies and the way in which we live our lives. Thank you Golnaz for the beautiful timely reminder to de-clutter and re-imprint as we step forward.

There is a natural and contagious inspiration in your words, Golnaz – because you have embodied this lesson and movement for yourself, when you express it from your body it speaks to others peoples’ bodies directly and bypasses the doubt or complication of the mind. In other words, I’ve got the de-cluttering bug and want to get in there too!

I am thinking I might enlist the support of someone to help with my deculttering. I like that you have respected the fact that somethings you are not yet ready to deal with, but you are celebrating the areas where you have already made changes.

It is beautiful to feel your appreciation for yourself within the ongoing process of decluttering your flat and your life which I find inspiring as I can still tend to get overwhelmed by the vastness of the task instead of celebrating how far I have already come with it and how open I now am to continuing this in all areas of my life.

Love your blog Golnaz, I love decluttering and have always felt a lot of satisfaction in getting rid of things that no longer serve or have never served. If I am feeling out of sorts one of the first things I will do is clear out a cupboard, doing this can help bring a sense of purpose.
Yesterday I decluttered a community kitchen which felt awesome to do, I was throwing away stuff that had well gone by there sell by date.

To me one of the great mysteries in life is how can people can keep tomato ketchup for over 10 years?

This may sound weird but I absolutely LOVE decluttering and refining my things down to the bare minimum. It’s like a preparation for moving forward – what keeps me in the past and what is coming with me and actually supports me to step forwards?

I have found de-cluttering very daunting and would avoid it like the plague! It was an area of my life I did not or was not ready to look at.

Since attending a recent retreat I had the impulse to de-clutter and I actually enjoyed going through my things. Letting go of things I no longer wanted or wore. It was so freeing and suddenly I could feel there was space and a lightness about the place so this blog is relatable.

Golnaz in appreciating what you have shared reminded me to appreciate what I have been able to achieve considering I used to dislike de-cluttering – Thank you.

I can fully relate to what is shared here. I moved home about 16 months ago, for the first time in almost 28 years. When I first began clearing and deciding on what I would take I felt overwhelmed, so much so I spent that day away from the house and went visiting friends. The next day though I knew I had to begin, and the moment I did everything fell into place. I began in one area and naturally moved to the next, it was not difficult or overwhelming, but an experience in flow and feeling what a steady commitment can bring.

I love decluttering and so much so that I hardly own anything any more, I have gladly let over 90% of it all go. Now when I allow any area to become cluttered and my desk is one of the the last bastions of this lack of order, I can feel how it is dragging me down and how I need to stop and put it all in order, which is exactly what I am going to do next. Thanks for the prompt!

Doug I too love decluttering but it is my paperwork that is the challenge at the moment, it just seems to come from nowhere and accumulates at a very rapid rate! And as you share it is very draining to feel and observe this, and I am starting to become aware of how this is actually a lack of respect for myself. I also know I have more clarity around what I am doing if I have a clear desk and clear surroundings so In view of this, I am about to put myself on a paperwork decluttering program.

I love de-cluttering and I love clearing out my computer files and emails too. Having a clean desktop screen with well labelled folders makes life feel clear and I find it fun to organise my folders appropriately and to delete old files and emails that are no longer important to make space for new opportunities and connections when they arise.

‘Now that we have almost gone around de-cluttering every bit of my flat, I am aware most areas have just had the first go. I could in fact re-visit each area and go deeper.’ It’s rather like peeling back the onion layers isn’t it, whenever we deepen there is always another layer we can go to.

I have been decluttering my desk today and did one thing at a time, some of the things I saw myself just moving around not ready to make a clear decision what to do with it or where it belongs. And that’s fine too as I know there will be another phase in the decluttering in which I will know what to do with it. With everything in life honouring our own rhythm works best.